Shoe tree



March 18, 1947; 2. DESROSIERS ,4

' SHOE TREE Filed May 1'7, 1946 Patented Mar. 18, 1947 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

The present invention pertains to a novel shoe tree designed to holdshoes in proper shape when not being worn.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple andinexpensive device of this character which is also effective inoperation. Another object of the invention is to provide such a devicewherein the width is adjustable for various widths of shoes within agiven range.

In the accomplishment of these objects, the device comprises a main orbody portion which is shaped from a blank of metal. The metal is bent toform a bottom section or sole plate and a top plate, with an interveningend wall. The top section is bent downwardly along its longitudinaledges in a manner to form side walls that converge toward the free endof the top section or the end remote from the end wall. In this mannerthe body of the device is adapted to fit into the forward portion of theshoe.

The top section is slit lengthwise from the end wall to the free end inorder that it may be spread to various widths. To accomplish thespreading action, a spreader is mounted between the side walls and has astem extending through the end wall so that it may be grasped andactuated externally. The spreader consists preferably of a wire memberhaving its shank slidable through the end wall and formed with aspreading loop between the side walls. The stem or shank of the spreaderis accommodated in a slot cut through the end wall and having arestricted lower end. It is formed with a series of notches receivableselectively in the restricted end of the slot to maintain the desiredposition of the spreading loop between the side walls. When the loop isdrawn to a wider part or the device, the top section automaticallycontracts because of the resiliency of the metal from which the deviceis formed. In the preferred construction a tongue is struck upward fromthe bottom section and is shaped to guide the shank of the spreader.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the followingdescription and in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a'plan view of the device;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a section on the line d-A of Figure 1.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characterswhich are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

As shown in the several figures, the body of the shoe tree is comprisedof a suitably shaped blank of metal or plastic material bent to form asole plate or base i that is slightly concave on its upper surface, atop section 2 and a vertical connecting wall 3 at one end of the membersI and 2. The top section 2 is'slit lengthwise at 4, and each of theparts thus formed is bent downwardly along its outer longitudinal edgeto form a side 5. Each bend is formed along an outwardly curved line 6so that the top section 2 tapers toward the forward end generally in thefashion of the sole of a shoe. The sides 5 are preferably perforated atl for lightness.

The wall 3 is formed with a vertical slot 8 having its lower endrestricted at 9 for a purpose that will presently appear. A rather heavywire it is sliziably mounted in the slot and is formed along a portionof its length with notches II which permit insertion in the restrictedlower end 9. On the outer side of the wall 3, the wire H3 is looped atI2 to form a finger piece. The wire extends a substantial distance alongthe base plate l and is there formed with another loop l3. This loop isof substantially oval shape having its major axis extending transverselyof the sides 5 and longer than the minimum distance between the sides.Thus, when the loop 3 is pushed forward into the tapering part of thedevice, it spreads the sides 5 apart, at the same time lifting themslightly by riding upward on the sole piece I, as illustrated in dottedlines in Figures 1 and 2. A tongue M is stamped upward from the plate land is formed in its upper edge with a recess it that serves as a guidefor the wire II).

In the use of the device, the loop 13 is normally retracted to the Widerpart of the top section 2 and the device is inserted in the shoe. Thewire it! is then moved forward with its loop l3 by pushing on the fingerpiece l2 until the desired spread within the shoe has been obtained. Itwill be understood that the notched portion of the wire must be broughtinto the upper portion of the slot 8 in order to permit slidingmovement. After the desired adjustment has been obtained, the wire ispushed down in the slot 8 so that one of the notches H locks in therestricted end 9, thereby securing the selected adjustment of thedevice. On retraction of the loop 13, the device contracts to itsoriginal condition.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it will be understood that various alterations in the detailsof construction may be made without departing from the scope of theinvention as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A shoe tree comprising a plate bent to provide top and bottomsections and a connecting end wall, said top section being also bentdownwardly along its longitudinal edges to form side walls, said wallsconverging toward the free end of said top section, said top sectionbeing slit from said end wall to its free end, a stem slidable throughsaid end wall, and a spreader for said side walls carried by said stem.

2. A shoe tree comprising a plate bent to provide top and bottomsections and a connecting end wall, said top section being also bentdownwardly along its longitudinal edges to form side walls, said wallsconverging toward the free end of said top section, said top sectionbeing slit from said end wall to its free end, a stem slidable throughsaid end wall, means for locking said stem in adjusted positions in saidend wall, and a spreader for said side walls carried by said stem.

3. A shoe tree comprising a plate bent to pr vide top and bottomsections and a connecting end wall, said top section being also bentdownwardly along its longitudinal edges to form side walls, said wallsconverging toward the free end of said top section, said top sectionbeing slit from said end wall to its free end, a wire slidable throughsaid end wall, a loop formed on said wire between said side walls andhaving a width greater than the minimum spacing between said side walls,and. means for locking said stem in adjusted positions in said end wall.

4. A shoe tree comprising a plate bent to provide top and bottomsections and a connecting end wall, said top section being also bentdownwardly along its longitudinal edges to form side walls, said wallscnverging toward the free end of said 4 top section, said top sectionbeing slit from said end wall to its free end, said end wall having aslot therein with a restricted end, a wire slidable through said slot, aloop formed on said wire between said side walls and having a widthgreater than the minimum spacing between said side walls, said wirehaving notches adapted to lock selectively in the notched end of saidslot.

5. A shoe tree comprising a plate bent to provide top and bottomsections and a connecting end wall, said top section being also bentdownwardly along its longitudinal edges to form side walls, said wallsconverging toward the free end of said top section, said top sectionbeing slit from said end wall to its free end, a wire slidable throughsaid end wall, a loop formed on said wire between said side walls andhaving a width greater than the minimum spacing between said side walls,a tongue formed on said bottom section and guiding said wire, and meansfor locking said stem in adjusted positions in said end wall.

6. A shoe tree comprising a plate bent to provide top and bottomsections and a connecting end wall, said top section being also bentdownwardly along its longitudinal edges to form side walls, said wallsconverging toward the free end of said top section, said top sectionbeing slit from said end wall to its free end, a wire slidable throughsaid end wall, a loop formed on said wire between said side walls andhaving a width greater than the minimum spacing between said side walls,a tongue formed on said bottom section and guiding said wire, said wirehaving notches adapted to lock selectively in the notched end of saidslots.

ZENON DESROSIERS.

